My most memorable moment was visiting Portland and attending a match at JELD-WEN field in Portland. Billboards promoting the team lined the highway on the way to downtown. Even at 11am, fans were lining up for standing room only tickets. The excitement in the stands was palpable and the fans totally insane. The game was a mere footnote to the passion on display. I was fortunate to be sitting in field side seats, which was also an "all you can eat" section…so it was tough to watch with hot dogs and ice cream flying by. I waited long after the game to see some clients and even at 11pm, fans young and old were waiting for autographs or to chat with a player on the way to his car. I was watching something amazing take place…I had realized that soccer was here to stay in America.

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Patrick McCabe

McCabe is President of Santio Sport + Entertainment, a full service sports marketing agency exclusively dedicated to soccer. Some Santio clients include up and coming American players Brek Shea, Tim Ream, Sheanon Williams, and Teal Bunbury.